I have trouble thinking big. I’ll happily write a daily to-do list and plow through it, but ask me to dream about what could be and I get very uncomfortable.
I’m not a big risk taker, I’m really careful with money, and I definitely don’t want to sink all my energy into a crazy idea that won’t pan out. I’m a conservative person by nature and I like to know in advance how things will unfold. I also learned financial advices online, so I would suggest to look at this site for those who also wish to learn more about it.
And if you want to bolster your financial confidence and fortify your future’s financial security, it’s prudent to engage the services of a trusted financial advisor firm like Exponent. This firm specializes in tailoring personalized portfolios that emphasize long-term success and stability.
This is how I approach my personal life. Six months before we were actually engaged Charlie and I sat down with the calendar to choose possible wedding dates. When I was pregnant with each of our children there was no question in my mind that we would find out the gender at 18 weeks. I love to plan ahead.
If left unchecked, this is also how I approach my business, for better and worse. I have to force myself to take risks and to say yes to things that don’t yet have a defined path. I have to push myself to spend money and invest back in my business so that it can grow. And I have to force myself to think big when I think about the future. I want to be my own’s business financial planner and see how Jerome Myers financial advisor coaching can help me on this. However, if you need expert advice on your personal or business finances, you may want to hire a financial advisor. You may also visit sites like irainvesting.com to help you better understand your ira investment options.
With just 19 days left in 2014, I’m setting aside my daily to-do list for now and making room for some long-term thinking. However painful it may be, it’s good medicine and will lead to healthy growth in the new year.
I’ve read enough about goal setting to know that good goals are:
- Challenging
- Attainable
- Specific
- Time-limited
- Positive
- Flexible
I think it’s best to keep the goals list short and to share it with just a few people who really get what you’re doing and will support you in your efforts.
Here are a few of mine for the coming year:
- Double my newsletter subscribers from 4,700 to 9,400 while maintaining a 45% open rate.
- Attend fall Quilt Market as a member of the press.
- Release four new soft toy and doll patterns, one per quarter.
- Complete and release a third business-to-business ebook in the first quarter.
- Double my Instagram following from 1,300 to 2,600 by posting at least one image daily.*
*It might see crass to set social media follower numbers as a goal, but remember that as a sole proprietor you fill every role in your business, including that of social media manager. If you were hired to be the social media manager for a large company you’d have specific benchmarks to meet for growing a following and for posting frequency. Treat your tiny business with that same level of seriousness. I highly recommend you sneak a peek at these guys for some practical strategies to help create a more inclusive workplace. Moreover, if you want to improve your accounting tasks, you may consider using Quickbooks software. You may visit the Fourlane homepage to learn more. In addition, you might also want to invest in a Practice Management Software to help your business grow.
All of us have limited funds to invest in our businesses, and if you’re just starting out those funds may be extremely limited. Within your budget, push yourself to choose one significant thing to spend money on in 2015. It might be getting a new website, hiring a designer to create a professional logo, printing packaging materials or patterns, buying software, traveling to a show, or something else. But choose something so that you can more easily say “maybe next year” to other temptations.
I have more goals, some of them much bigger than those I’ve listed here, but I’m hanging onto them in a private way for now. Although the future is impossible to predict and impossible to fully control, these two weeks are a very good time to try to think big about your business and create a path for the coming year. Your goals will be a like beacon when you’re lost in the forest of the daily to-do list.
sara says
I’ll be looking forward to the articles that come out of your quilt market attendance!
Amy says
What gets me about goal setting is it’s a lot like throwing darts in the dark. Not that I don’t make goals, to fail to do so would be to hit the target of achieving nothing. I’ve always struggled with business plans for this reason. Sometimes you just have to grab at whatever numbers you have in order to have a place to start from.
I think your goals sound perfect; measurable, challenging, and yet attainable.
I find myself in a season of waiting while a few things resolve themselves. As much as I find goal setting difficult, waiting is much more difficult! So I set goals for what I can control and fight against this feeling of spinning in place.
Andrea_R says
I’m at the same spot. Right now, my goal is to release something – ANYTHING – on my list of stuff I want to do to even get my business off the ground. Though, my challenge is I have 2 related but different businesses I’d like to do.
You know, in my spare time… while working full time at something else.
Abby says
I have two related businesses, too. It’s a tricky thing, isn’t it? And making time when you have another job must be very, very challenging.
Debbie says
This is timely and helpful. I am thinking through direction for a new year. After 3 years I am just breaking even financially, but I’ve met and sustained my goal of using a hobby to earn funds for my charity work. Now I have the option to move to a storefront business rather than online. In thinking, I realize I have strayed off course in my thoughts about branding. I’ve lost my vision and I need a new one. Thanks, Abby, for these thoughts. I’ started out with an idea and 6 baby blankets and complete ignorance. This should help me regroup.
Abby says
Best of luck to you!
Cheryl Arkison says
I just looked at my list for 2014. The key is to revisit the list relatively frequently to make sure you haven’t got of track. And if you have, examine why and whether that’s a better place to be.
Abby says
Totally. I pull my list out at the close of each quarter and revisit it. That’s a great point! It’s okay to cross stuff off that isn’t going to happen and to add new stuff instead, too. Flexibility is key!
Molly says
I was so glad to see this post in my newsletter this morning as it is something I’ve been thinking about at this time of year and really struggling to put on paper! Having started an Etsy shop this summer and working in my spare time to get it up and running, I often have trouble determining how to set goals (both long and short term) that strike the appropriate level of challenge. Too often I feel that I end up being tactical instead of strategic and setting up lists of activities instead of outcomes I want to achieve.
In my “day job”, goals are clear and I know how much time I “should” commit to each project to be successful. For my crafting business, I don’t yet have an intuitive sense of how much I need to put in to achieve a goal. This means I get stuck in making plans that accomplish the most critical work without being unrealistic.
I often look to see how other creative people make informed choices about their time and what goals are “enough” but not “too much”. Thanks for sharing, Abby. I am curious to see if others have tips or ideas on this subject!
Abby says
I agree with you that it can really be tricky and like guesswork to set goals, especially financial goals. If you say, “I’ll sell $500/month worth of product each month” that can be hard to specifically control. It takes long-term built in routines to be able to meet revenue goals like that (sending a weekly newsletter, for example, or writing 12 blog posts a month). It’s hard to meet those goals and easy to feel badly that you don’t. I have stayed away from revenue goals for that reason, but perhaps it’s an area I need to learn more about.
Laurel Landers says
Thanks so much Abby for some good, concrete ideas for goal setting. It’s making me take another look at my goals for the year ahead!
Abby says
So glad to hear that, Laurel.
ChristaQuilts says
You are a very organized person and I’m sure you’ll achieve your goals – those you’ve stated plus your private ones. I’ll look forward to seeing at at market next fall!
Abby says
Yay! I’m really excited. See you there.
Allison says
Just have to tell you Abby how much I love your blog and style of writing. I’ve learned a lot from you and been inspired and I’ve never even commented (horrible)! Thank you for your inspirational and wonderful thoughtful posts and Happy New Year! -Allison
Abby says
Thank you, Allison! Happy new year.
Kimbrah says
As a family we came up with a vision board this year. We took a flattened cardboard shipping box and wrapped it in festive wrapping paper and then we pinned up pictures and ideas of what we want to accomplish in the next 5 years plus inspirational quotes, etc. It’s very motivating to walk into our family room everyday and com face to face with our dreams, to actually see them. Thanks for this post!